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PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS 



ADOl'TKl) UY 



THE UNION LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA, 

In General Meeting, August 22, 1S6G. 



• 

Whereas, The war recently waged against the Federal Goveraraent by 
certain States confederated and acting as an independent power under the name 
of the Confederate States of America, has resulted in establishing the supremacy 
of the Government, and in the total abolition of slavery in the United States. 
The relation of master and slave being thus abolished, every person born or 
naturalized in the United States is absolutely free by the laws thereof, and 
should have the protection of the supreme power of the land, in the enjoyment 
of life, liberty, and property. 

And Whereas, That portion of the Constitution whereby three-fifths of the 
slaves of the Southern States were represented in Congress prior to the rebel- 
lion, has ceased to be operative, and a re-adjustment of the basis of representa- 
tion has become necessary in order to secure such equality among the several 
States, that the same number of voters in every State shall be entitled to the 
same number of representatives in Congress and the Electoral College; — and 
until such re-adjustment can be made, and the number of voters in the several 
States, confederated as aforesaid, can be ascertained, the number of representa- 
tives to which they are severally entitled cannot be fixed. 

And Whereas, The Constitution declares that levying war against the 
United States, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort, is 
treason ; and by law, the penalty of treason is death : and while the loyal citi- 
zens of the country, who have sustained the Government throughout the war 
which treason organized and waged against it, are willing and desire to forgive 
the masses of the people of the South for the offences which they have com- 
mitted, under the leadership of traitors, in assailing the flag and the life of our 
common country; and while we are ready to unite with them in ro-establishing 
the Union on the sure foundations of liberty and justice, we maintain that 



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"treason is a crime, that traitors should be punished, and the offence made in- 
famous." 

And Whereas, The assumption and payment, by the United States, of the 
rebel debt, incurred in the prosecution of the war against them, is insisted upon 
by the owners of Confederate bonds in Europe, which, with the large amount 
thereof held in the Southern States, renders it probable that efforts will be 
made in the future to obtain appropriations from Congress for that purpose, 
unless prohibited by the fundamental law of the land. In order therefore to 
prevent the agitation of such a question, and to shut our forever all claims upon 
the Government for debts or obligations incurred in aid of the rebellion, or for 
the loss or emancipation of slaves, it is just and expedient that such claims 
should be declared null and void by, the Constitution of the United States. 

And Whereas, The Congress of the United States has proposed to the 
Legislatures of the several States certain amendments to the Constitution of 
the United States in relation to the several matters mentioned in this preamble, 
the ratification of which by three-fourths of the said Legislatures will secure — 

First. The restoration and perpetuity of the Union. 

Second. The rights of citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the 
United States, and equal protection to all in the possession and enjoyment of 
life, liberty, and property. 

Third. Equality of representation among the States, in Congress, and the 
Electoral College, reserving and securing to each State the power to decide 
who shall be admitted to the right of suffrage within its jurisdiction. 

Fourth. The exclusion of every person from public office, who, having pre- 
viously taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, shall 
have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or com- 
fort to the enemies thereof. 

Fifth. The payment of the public debt of the United States authorized iby 
law, and the exclusion of all applications to Congress for the payment of debts 
incurred "in aid of the rebellion, and of all claims for the loss or emancipation 
of slaves. 

And Whereas, A Convention of Loyal Unionists of the South has been 
called to meet in Philadelphia, on the first Monday in September, for the pur- 
pose of bringing the loyal men of the Southern States in conjunctive action 
with the true friends of Republican Government in the North, with the view 
to re-establish the States recently in rebeUion, in their just and proper relations 
with the Federal Government, on a basis which will insure the tranquillity and 
integrity of the Union, and guarantee to all men the blessings of a free govern- 
ment, justly administered ; 

And Whereas, The said Convention will represent the faithful and loyal 



citizens of the South, with whom the members of the Union League of Phila- 
delphia have alwa3's been in sympathy — men, who steadfastly and fearlessly 
resisted, to the utmost of their power, the efforts of disuuionists to destroy the 
Government, and whose fidelity to tlie Union subjects them, even now, to the 
most cruel persecution from the traitors who were engaged in the war against 
it, and whose hands are stained with the blood of our own friends and kindred; 

Be it therefore Resolvrd : 

I. That this League will welcome to the City of Philadelphia the delegates 
to the Convention of Southern Loyalists, to be held on the first Monday in Sep- 
tember next, and will co-operate with them and other loyal citizens of the United 
States to secure a perpetual union of all the States on the basis proposed in the 
amendment to the Constitution agreed upon by Congress, and submitted to the 
legislatures of the several States, as follows, to wit: 



JOINT PtESOLUTION 

Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as passed bj- Congress, June 

13, 1S06. 

licsoh-ed, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States <f 
America in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) That 
the following article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States, as an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by 
three-fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid as part of the Constitution, 
namely : 

ARTICLE—. 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject 
to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State 
wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge 
the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States ; nor sliall any State 
deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor 
deny to any person within its jurisdiction, the equal protection of the laws. 

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States 
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in 
each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any 
election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United 
States, representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial Ofiicers of a State, 



or tlie members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabit- 
ants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United 
States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other 
crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion 
which the number of sucb male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male 
citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. 

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or 
elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, 
under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an 
oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a 
member of any State legislature, or as an Executive or Judicial officer of any 
State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in 
insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies 
thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such 
disability. 

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized 
by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services 
in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither 
the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation in- 
curred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim 
for the loss or emancij^ation of any slave ; but all such debts, obligations and 
claims shall be held illegal and void. 

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legisla- 
tion, the provisions of this article. 

II. That a general meeting of the League be called at a time to be here- 
after designated, for the purpose of giving a public welcome to the delegates to 
the said Convention, and that the citizens of Pennsylvania and other States who 
approve of these proceedings be, and they are hereby invited to participate in 
the same. 

III. That the Secretary of the League be, and he is hereby instructed to 
issue to each of the delegates admitted to the said Convention a card of admission 
to the League House. 

IV. That the thanks of this League be, and they are hereby cordially 
presented to the loyal representatives in Congress from this and other States, who, 
faithful to justice, to liberty, to the Constitution and the Union, have saved the 
country from the humiliation, danger and disgrace of admitting into the public 
councils unpunished traitors, whose hands are stained with the blood of her 
loyal children. 

V. That in the extraordinary sympathy recently nianit'csted by Andrew 



Johnson, under the guidance of William II. Seward, with the prominent traitors 
of the country, and their political adherents; — 

In his treachery to a loyal people, who trusted and raised him to power ; — 

In his recent declaration that he will so use that power as to compel every 
man who holds office under the government, to support his policy or give up 
his bread; — 

In his denial of the right of the people of the loyal States to exercise legisla- 
tive powers in Congress in the present condition of the country; — 

In his indecent and ribald attacks upon their representatives for endeavoring 
to establish justice, and protect a weak and helpless race from persecution, op- 
pression, and slaughter; — 

In his fraternity with the rebels of New Orleans, resulting in a horrible and 
causeless massacre of loyal, peaceful, and virtuous citizens, wicked in concep- 
tion and fiendish in execution ; — 

"We recognize with profound disappointment and sorrow, a degree of moral 
and political depravity, which has no parallel in our history; and we are thus 
admonished that the utmost vigilance is now required on the part of those by 
whose votes and arms the nation was saved, in order to secure the fruits of their 
victory, justice with peace, and liberty with union. 

VI. That we earnestly invite the co-operation of every loyal citizen of 
Pennsylvania in the duty of securing the election of John W. Geary to the 
gubernatorial office, as the tried and faithful exponent of our principles, and 
the election of Members of Congress from this State, who will sustain the action 
of the present Congress in their efforts to secure the re-establishment of the 
Union on the basis proposed in the Amendment to the Constitution, now before 
the people, and also the election of a Legislature that will approve and ratify 
the said Amendment on the part of the people of this Commonwealth. 

VII. That a Committee of seventy-six members of the League be ap- 
pointed by the President of the League to carry into effect the objects contem- 
plated by these resolutions, and that he shall be ex-officio, a member of the said 
Committee. 

VIII. That the Committee to be so appointed, be instructed to forward a 
copy of these resolutions to the said Convention of Loyal Unionists of the South, 
together with the following letter, on behalf of the League. 

TO THE LOYAL UNIONISTS OF THE SOUTH IN CONVENTION 

ASSEMBLED. 

Fellow-Citizk.ns : — 

The Union League uf Philadelphia was formed in the darkest hours of the 
war against rcbelliou, for the purpose of strengthening and supporting the Gov- 



ernment against those who sought its destruction. Seeking to aid in the triumph 
of the broad principles of republican nationality, it has ever been in sympathy 
with all who have labored and suffered for that sacred cause. Foremost among 
these are the Union Men of the South, who during four years of unparalleled per- 
secution, kept the fires of patriotism burning brightly amid the gloom of treason 
and rebellion. 

The League would therefore be false to all its principles, if it did not gladly 
seize the opportunity of your assembling in the City where the Union was 
formed, to welcome you in the warmest manner. Here, where the traditions 
of our fathers teach us the love of country and of equal rights, you have fittingly 
met to prove to the whole land that there is a genuine Union sentiment in the 
South — not that spurious Unionism which rebels because it cannot wield supre- 
macy, and then returns to win by empty lip service the power which it had 
failed to extort by force — but the tried Unionism which has never swerved from 
the right, though destruction seemed to be its portion, and which has proved 
its devotion to our country by faithfulness through trials almost too great for 
human endurance. To such Unionism, our warmest respect is due, and with the 
men, who have thus proved their patriotism, we esteem it an honor to be united 
in the bonds of fellowship. 

Your sufferings during the war commanded our heartiest sympathy, and we 
promised ourselves that its triumphant close would bring to you your reward, 
not only in a release from persecution, but in enabling you to carry into effect 
your noble aspirations of moulding into one glorious nationality the hitherto 
jarring sections* of our country. With you, we grieve profoundly at the unex- 
pected policy which apparently seeks to reward treason and to punish fidelity ; 
nor c:)ii we see aught but evil for the future in the unholy alliance between 
those '11 the one hand who sought to subvert the government, and on the other, 
who en leavored to cripple that government in its efforts of self-preservation. 

With you, we think that the destinies of the Republic should not be confided 
to men who have labored for its destruction. With you, we deprecate the 
measures which place loyalty, defenceless, in the power of such men as organ- 
ized the New Orleans massacres. With you, we desire to see treason made 
odious, in order to secure for our posterity the blessings of peace. 

With you, we supported the war in the interests of peace, but the peace for 
which we struggled was not to be a hollow truce, in which both parties should 
be recruiting strength for another conflict; nor was it to be an artifice by which 
traitors should obtain through legislation the ends which they had failed to 
secure by force. 

You have sufferred, and we have striven for a peace which should confer upon 
our country unity in fact as well as in name; and we all recognize that thi.« is 



only to IJc obtained by giving unalterable constitutional sanction to the verdict 
rendered on the field of battle. Such being our community of feeling and of 
purpose, we hold you in all honor for the sacrifices which you have made, and 
which you are ready to continue to the end. 

We shall at all times feel our house honored by the presence of your stead- 
fast and incorruptible patriotism, and we would especially request your attend- 
ance on the day of September, that a free interchange of senti- 
ments may serve to consolidate the bonds of mutual sympathy and good will. 

May a righteous God so direct your deliberations as to render your assembly 
an efficient instrument in restoring to our country the harmony and unity to 
which it has so Ions; been a stranger. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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